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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact: Rachel DiLeo

rachel@citydance.net 

CityDance Conservatory Dancers Accepted to The Royal Ballet School

Bethesda, MD – CityDance Conservatory Dancers Corbin Holloway (14) and Rebecca Stewart (15) have been accepted to The Royal Ballet School in London. They have trained at CityDance School & Conservatory through the Petite Conservatory Program. Corbin and Rebecca currently live in Maryland and will be continuing their training in Europe this fall. They have had aspirations to dance with the Royal Ballet from a young age, following in the footsteps of their dance idols Carlos Acosta and Marianela Núñez. Their acceptance to The Royal Ballet School will give them direct access to artistic leadership at The Royal Ballet. 

“Every pre-professional dancer eventually seeks a professional dance company home from which to launch their career. The Royal Ballet School is the one of the most renowned dance institutions in the world, and for Corbin Holloway and Rebecca Stewart to be accepted into the year-round program is a great testament to their talent, commitment to the art form and the training and opportunities they received at CityDance,” said Stanislav Issaev, CityDance School & Conservatory Ballet Master.

Corbin Holloway 

​​“My goal is to dance in The Royal Ballet Company and going to The Royal Ballet School is a great first step! I have wanted to dance there ever since I was young. I will miss CityDance since it has been like a second home for me. I don’t think I would be anywhere close to where I am today without CityDance training and performance opportunities,” said Corbin Holloway. 

Corbin Holloway (14) has been dancing with CityDance since the age of 8. At the age of 10 and 11, Corbin performed in the CityDance Gala at the Historic Lincoln Theatre in Washington DC. He appeared and performed on the popular TV show “Little Big Shots,” where he received a $10k scholarship for his future dance training from Misty Copeland. He was featured in Dance Spirit Magazine in the article, “Why You Should Know Dynamic Danseur Corbin Holloway.” He is also an ABT National Training Scholar. Corbin has been recognized with top honors at the New York City Dance Alliance (NYCDA) and Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), including 1st Place National Junior High Score Soloist at NYCDA, the YAGP Hope Award, and the Youth Grand Prix Award.  He has performed in multiple YAGP Galas including the international YAGP Gala in Genova, Italy in 2021 and Orbizo, Mexico in 2019. As a result of his recognition through YAGP, Corbin was presented with the prestigious invitation of a year-round full coverage scholarship to the Royal Ballet School in London for the 2021-2022 season. 

Rebecca Stewart 

“I am so excited to continue my dance training in London at The Royal Ballet School this September. I am grateful for the CityDance faculty and staff for embracing me into their dance family, and for their teaching and guidance, which have prepared me incredibly well,” said Rebecca Stewart. 

Rebecca Stewart started her training with CityDance School & Conservatory at age 10 in the Petite Conservatory Program. At the age of 12, Rebecca performed in the CityDance Gala at the Historic Lincoln Theatre in Washington DC. At age 13, she performed the coveted role of Clara with the “Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes” at Radio City Music Hall from the fall of 2019 into January of 2020.  Rebecca won the Junior Female Outstanding Dancer Award for  NYCDA in 2019. She has won numerous awards at Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) throughout the years, including the Hope Award and the Youth Grand Prix.  In 2020 she was featured in  the Dance Spirit Magazine as one of “The 4 up and coming Black Dancers Making History Right Now.” This past season Rebecca collaborated choreographically in the creation of her contemporary solo “Strange Fruit” with Lenya Williams and Lorraine Spiegler. Rebecca was invited to audition for the Royal Ballet School during an online intensive during COVID.

“Rebecca and Corbin’s acceptances to the year-round program at The Royal Ballet School is a wonderful opportunity. This gift is a product of hard work, dedication, solid training and fortuitous recognition and timing. The Petite Conservatory Program was formed for students like Corbin and Rebecca in order to meet the needs of young talents ages 9-13 who need exceptional challenges in order to develop. The Petite Conservatory Program and their achievements support our training approach of stage not age,” said Lorraine Speigler, CityDance School & Conservatory Artistic Director. 

Learn more about the CityDance School & Conservatory here. Email Rachel DiLeo, rachel@citydance.net, to schedule press interviews. 

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About CityDance 

CityDance is a nonprofit dance institution dedicated to developing the next generation of dance artists and innovators. With studio locations across the national capital region, CityDance trains young dancers for professional careers, nurtures talent and achievement through dance, and works to advance the field of professional dance. Anchored in a belief that diversity advances excellence, CityDance works to dismantle barriers and create opportunities that promote equitable access to dance education and performance. CityDance operates the CityDance School & Conservatory, a pre-professional dance school with four locations across Montgomery County, Maryland and Washington, DC, and CityDance Presents, bringing professional dance to stages and studios across the region. In spring 2021, CityDance DREAM became The VIVA School of Dance, which will operate as an affiliate of CityDance.